I’VE been off the grid – as they say – the past several weeks, going on a lengthy road trip with my dear wife to vacation with some of our family at Yellowstone National Park, and visiting other family in Minnesota. So, I haven’t posted to “Lesson from the Garden” in the past five weeks. Given that, before returning to where we left off in our reading and considerations in Principles of Spiritual Growth, the Cross, I’d like to share a thought or two concerning something I noted quite profoundly during this recent road trip. Starting with this:
“Where only the sun shines, only a desert grows” – anon
I USED to drive my sons (one in particular) nuts with that quote. It was sort of the precursor of my now favorite quote: “Problems we face are nothing more than opportunities in disguise” -John Adams.
AS we were packing for our road trip, I knew my regular morning routine was going to be disrupted, so I needed to think about how to approach my morning devotion and prayer time away from home. On an impulse I grab an old copy of Streams in the Desert off my bookshelf which I hadn’t read in years. This devotional book belonged to my paternal father. Philippians 4:7 is penned and signed on the cover page by my father’s pastor:
“May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.” – Ralph E. Stewart, Nov. 13, 1951.
THERE is no small amount of irony to my revisiting this book after so many years, noting after all this time underlines and marginal comments, wondering how many of those hand written notations are mine or my father’s? If you know my story at all, you know that my father became seriously ill and was hospitalized when I was about 5 years old, passing away four years later. I don’t have a lot of memories of him, even though what I just wrote immediately conjures up a mountain of thought stemming back to that day my mother told me he had died and the memories of subsequent events that followed.
STREAMS IN THE DESERT
AS I’ve gotten older, looking back over the many twists and turns in my life and the lives of others in my family, even the title of this book has taken on a new significance. While on our road trip, I found myself compelled to comment to my wife that what I just read, …well I just didn’t “get it” before; its theme and message seems to have alluded me in previous readings. But not now; now I get it like I hadn’t before. In time I have come to learn that sufferings and trials are “Desirable Difficulties” (an axiom coined by Malcom Gladwell in his book “David and Goliath”). We are to “count it all joy when we fall into various trials” (James 1:2) if we are to truly grow, mature, and really know the depth of our calling in Christ. Yes, “Where only the sun shines, only a desert grows.”
ON this road trip, the Lord sort of punctuated this point on many occasions. For example, before arriving to Yellowstone, news networks reported the occurrence of rains and devastating flooding that had shut down the northern loop and entrances to Yellowstone. Providentially, the northern loop was reopened when we arrived. This was Cindy and I ninth trip into the park since 1987. We honeymooned there and have returned eight times thereafter. Traveling through Yellowstone this time we did notice the damage that occurred. But we had never seen the park this vibrant in lush green colors and flowers with full lakes, flowing streams and water falls. It was so beautiful and alive. Again, “Where only the sun shines, only a desert grows!” Heading for the park’s west entrance, traversing through the quaint little town of West Yellowstone, I noted this motel billboard sign in big red letters: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Getting home, I subsequently found that quote to be attributed to Vivian Greene. (Do a web search; interesting person.)
AT this point I’m wanting to share many of my “on the road” Steams in the Desert readings, but I’ll pick just one dated July 23, titled “Giving thanks always for all things unto God” (Eph 5:20).
“No matter what the source of the evil, if you are in God and surrounded by Him as by an atmosphere, all evil has to pass through Him before it comes to you. Therefore, you can thank God for everything that comes, not for the sin of it, but for what God will bring out of it and through it. May God make our lives thanksgiving and perpetual praise, then He will make everything a blessing (emphasis mine).”
“Everything a blessing” – sounds a lot like “Problems we face are nothing more than opportunities in disguise.”
IF you’d like to read the July 23rd entry in its entirety it can be found at this link
BUT, I’ll end here with it’s closing quote from CH Spurgeon: “Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties.”
